The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-09
CAUGHT IN A CORNER.

these fine days my pretty Sly Boots =
Elizabeth Archleigh turned from the
hamper she was filling and looked inqui-
ringly toward her uncle.
In what way? Not by your monopo-
lizing everything philanthropic, nor all
the commodities of charity ?r she smiled
in roguish retort
She knew what his comment meant,
however; and the retort was designed
to punish him for his attempt to tease
her.
The girl was sensitively reserved-al-
most to secretiveness-concern her
charities, which were bountiful and al
most multitudinous.
Seemingly she was only happy-heart-
ed, laughter loving young lady, some
what impalsive, and of a nature neither
profoundly reflective nor intensely sym
pathetic And il was her whim not to
disclose the graver depths behind her gay
and dimplingtnask.
suppose, said Uncle Gay, Struggling
his jolly old shoulders and whistling
softly beneath his shaggy gray mustashe
suppose that thrust means you have
put me down in your black list as a pc
nurious and misanthropie old bachelor.
Well, my dear, if ever do turn philan-
thropist, ] shall demand no credit for it.
| shall not hide my light under bushel,
nor do my charity as if kindly deed
were something of which | was half
ashamed"
Elizabeth's very fair cheeks crimsoned
slightly, the laughing blue eyes sobered
IN an instant
50 Let not the left hand know what the
right doeth,"' she quoted hastily, as if
some quick feeling bad touched and jarr-
ed her gentle composure.
You do not consider the power of ex-
ample, her Uncle Gay continued with
gravity which was not characteristic.
Your example would arouse Others to
help the needy, if you would do your
good work openly instead of bestowing
your aims and encouragement surrep-
tiiiously, as it were"
Yes. a Haunting of banners and
blare of trumpets will always gain fol-
lowing of some sort, whether for good or
the reverse" Elizabeth returned with
wilful toss of her handsome auburn head
. And if | should advertise myself as a
helper of the needy should be distrac-
ted by petitions from everybody and for
everything. | should cry myself i'll lis
tening TO tales of woe, real or fictitious
| shouldn't have moment left for sweet
ideness | shouldn't have bit of time
for choosing my dresses, for my dancing,
for my gossiping and my party going,
and for the remainder of my other neces-
sites"
"Gossiping, dancing and sweet idle
ness are somewhat unique in the line of
necessities" said Uncle Gay, laughing
heartily as he glanced at her fair face,
which was as solemn and inscrutable as
that Of the sphinx itself.
If should label myself with my pet
whims," Elizabeth pursued as she indus
triously crammed and packed the bis
hamper, should have no end Of peo-
pie initiating the same whims, perhaps,
so | should think better of them than
they deserve. And | prefer to judge
people by what they are-not by what
they would assume to be just to please
me"
. All, | see You don't propose taking
inflated stock nor giving any definite
quotations of your own You take all the
points and give none but YOU may be
caught in corner for all that. my fair
Sly Boots" her uncle repeated.
Don't be absurd, [ Uncle Gay" said she
looking half vexed at his raillery
This keen-eyed, facetious old gentle
man had evidently guessed motive in
her pet whim and his banter had dis
turbed her equanimity at the moment
just then there was jangle and
clash of sleigh bells, stopping suddenly
at the curb before the house the next
instant the front door gong changed
there was the sound of familiar voice
in the hall above ; and then she was sum-
moned to the drawing room where the
visitor awaited her coming.
Elizabeth knew who the visitor was,
and there was swift color on her fair,
cheeks, and a swift light in her lovely
ewes as she went slowly down to meet
him.
The girl had long ago decided that she
could love Julius Keith with her whole
heart, and for all time, only he seemed
20 badly lacking in the one supreme at
tribute which most distinguished the
man whom she would chose to wed
If Julius Keith were only little more
beneyolently inclined, if he only showed
a disposition to sympathize with the sor-
rowing, to tighten the burden of the
oppressed, and brighten the gloom of the
destitute, he would have fulfilled her
ideal of all which seemed to her noble
and manly.
But he had never yet manifested tina,
in iispensable quality of her perfect
ideal
Unfortunate people often caused their
misfortunes it was in many instances
the bad management of the poor which
made their poverty the existing condi-
ton Of things might possibly be bettered
but how, was problem he was not wise
enough to solve" Mr.. Keith would say
when the topic wa mentioned.
And il was a topic too, he never seem
ed eag sr to discuss, and one which he
often ended abruptly or by jest. Per-
haps he was not unfeeling perhaps he
was not consciously irreverent in the jest.
But all the same Elizabeth sighed and